The Radio Boys in the Thousand Islands eBook

The prisoner was now thoroughly frightened. He
shrunk away from the glowering owner of the Catwhisker
as if he feared the man’s clenched fists were
about to rain blows on his wounded body. At last
he gasped in trembling tones:

“There, I thought we’d get something out
of you,” said Mr. Perry in tone of satisfaction.

“But you didn’t do it with mathematics
this time, dad,” Cub declared in a voice that
indicated full confidence of victory.

“Oh, yes, I did, my youthful minus quality,”
his father flashed back. “I multiplied
my wrath very righteously, and this fellow is going
to have his woes multiplied and his joys subtracted
and his peace of mind divided into a thousand more
pieces if he doesn’t get busy on the square and
see to it that young Alvin Baker is returned to his
father.”

“He isn’t hurt nearly as bad as he pretends
to be, Mr. Perry,” Hal put in as the “mathematical
man” indicated that he had “spoken his
speech”. “He moved his leg several
times. You better watch out or he’ll be
jumping up and making a dash for liberty.”

“I’d been noticing that,” Mr. Perry
replied. “I wouldn’t insult Bud’s
catapulting powers by intimating that this fellow wasn’t
pretty badly hurt; but I do think we’ve overestimated
the extent of the injury. He was completely knocked
out by the blow, but he’s been recovering here
pretty rapidly. Come on, now, Master Howard—­what’s
your first name—­won’t tell, eh?—­all
right; we’ll find out in due time—­come
on, let’s talk a walk down to papa and that
terrible man whose claws are just aching for revenge
for the loss of his son. What—­you can’t
get up? Well, boys, pick him up again and carry
him. Be careful, of course, for he’s in
some pain yet. Now, we’ll march. Bud,
you bring up the rear with your mediaeval rubber pistol,
and I’ll march beside you. If anybody, tries
to interfere with us there’ll be some crack-shot
shooting.”

Hal, Cub, Bud, and Max picked up the wounded boy in
approved relief-ambulance-corps style and carried
him, with a few groans and moans from their burden,
across the open area, through the narrow belt of bushes,
to the top of the hill that overlooked the landing.
There Mr. Perry called a halt and then hailed the
yacht thus:

“Ahoy, the Catwhisker.”

All listened breathlessly, but no answer came.
Then the owner of the boat put greater volume in his
voice and repeated the hail: